70 Vol. 10 / No. 5 / May 2018 Global Aviator
Helicopter ditching training
Helicopters are often piloted
by single pilots, and clear
airfield diversions are not
always a given. For this
reason, seasoned helicopter
pilots always keep an eye
out for force landing fields
where the aircraft can be
put down in an emergency.
If flying over large
expanses of water, this may
necessitate a water-landing
for which the helicopter
has to be specifically
equipped and cleared by
aviation authorities.Nature of helicopter flying
Helicopter flying may also involve low
flying and constant manoeuvring in
certain roles. Unlike an airliner where
the seat belts sign is turned off after
the aircraft reaches cruise, passengers
in a helicopter require being belted-
in at all times. This is in the nature of
helicopter flying where the machine
is capable of translating in six degrees
of freedom. Large sideslip angles can
develop as a result of manoeuvring
flight. Sudden onset of bank and
pitch angles, sharp acceleration,
deceleration and sideforce are all in
the helicopter’s routine envelope. So
when you fly in one of those machines,
you keep your seat belts always ON.Accidents Happen
Airbus AS350 helicopter N35OLH
belonging to a private operator was one
such helicopter undertaking a ‘doors-
off’ tourism flight with one pilot and
five passengers when it crashed into
New York’s East River on 11th Mar- The helicopter was on a photo
shoot where passengers are given a
‘doors-off’ ride over the Manhattan
skyline with ample opportunities
to take spectacular aerial photos.
Flying over beautiful (but hostile)
terrain in an open helicopter with the
wind rushing through your hair is a
magical, edge-of-the-seat experience.
I have done it many times in the line
of duty. But during all such flights
undertaken while I was in the navy, we
were always prepared for the exigency
of a water-landing. Fortunately for
most people, such an event may never
occur. For those who do experience an
emergency requiring water landing,
years of emergency egress training
and appropriate gear ensures a high
chance of escape and survival. As it
seems, passengers onboard that ill-
fated AS350 helicopter did not have
either the good fortune or training.
No miracle on the Hudson
US Airways Flight 1549 flew into a
flock of geese soon after take-off from
New York’s La Guardia airport on
15 January 2009 and lost both engines.
However, under the command ofCaptain Chesley Sullenberger and
First Officer Jeffery Skiles, the flight
undertook a copybook water landing
described as ‘Miracle on the Hudson’,
and all 155 aboard were safely rescued.
The East River helicopter crash of
11 March 18, however, suffered a much
worse fate and must go down as one
of the most unsuccessful ditching ever.
The lone survivor was the pilot. Five
passengers secured to the aircraft with
harnesses and tethers that facilitate
aerial photo shoots failed to escape the
inverted aircraft and their bodies had
to be cut out of harnesses by rescue
divers. As per reports, passengers were
given a 10-minute safety video and
tethered into the helicopter with an
eight-point proprietary safety harness,
complete with a knife for cutting it
off in case of an emergency requiring
quick exit. Serious doubts have been
raised whether this arrangement
provided a ‘quick release buckle’
or any instant, single-point release
mechanism so vital for underwater
escape from a downed helicopter. NTSB
investigations will reveal the reasons
why none of the passengers could
escape from the sinking helicopter.Design for safe exit
after ditching
Helicopters and their crew who fly
over sea have to be always prepared
for a ditching exigency. In the navy, we
used to fly the single-engine Allouettes
over sea without doors. This was not
for any thrill or photo opportunities.
It was meant to facilitate easy egress
from the helicopter should any failure
necessitate a ditching into the sea.
We operated without floats where a
downed helicopter would sink rapidly.
Therefore, no effort was spared to enable
easy and quick underwater exit as per
a drill that the aircrew trained-in at
regular intervals. A quick-release buckle
(QRB) on the waist provided instant
release from the four-point harness.
Such QRBs are found on all types of
aircraft for obvious reasons. Bigger
helicopters with doors like the offshore
configuration of AW139 are specifically
designed with floats, liferaft, markings,
emergency lights and easily deployable
emergency exits, all of which serve aLeft: Ditching Upright with
Flotation Gear.